Microsoft Pin and Setup

Question

Hi there,

Can someone please help me set up my Microsoft account on my laptop? It keeps saying to enable editing, I need to put my pin in, and then at some point in the process asks me to go to sign-in options since I don't remember my pin (I honestly don't even remember setting up my pin tbh)

Thing is, when I try to set up my PIN in sign-in options, which it recommends, it asks for my old pin - which I don't have obviously. That's why I'm trying to reset it.

I've been struggling with various issues with Microsoft for hours. I'd sincerely appreciate any help.

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Do you see the 'I forgot my PIN' option as shown in the screenshot?

Only the 'Change PIN' option will ask for your Old PIN; instead, select 'I forgot my PIN'.

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Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in Options > PIN (Windows Hello) > Select "I forgot my PIN" and follow the prompts to reset it. This process will not ask for your old PIN.

Answer 2

To get past the PIN requirement and fix sign-in on Windows 11, use an alternate sign-in method first, then reset or remove the problematic PIN.

1. On the Windows sign-in screen, select Sign-in options under the password box.
2. Choose another method that is available for the account, for example:
   • Password (Microsoft account or local account password), or
   • Security key if one is set up.
3. After signing in successfully with that method, open Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
4. Under Ways to sign in, select PIN (Windows Hello):
   • If there is an option to Remove the PIN, choose Remove to delete the old PIN completely.
   • Then choose Set up (or Add PIN) to create a new PIN from scratch. This flow should not ask for the old PIN once it has been removed.

If the device is stuck in a loop where the PIN cannot be reset from the normal desktop because it always fails, use the built-in Administrator account to get in and repair the user account:

1. From the sign-in screen, hold Shift and select Power > Restart to enter Windows Recovery Environment.
2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
3. From there, follow the approach described in the referenced answer to enable the built-in Administrator account via the registry, then restart and sign in as Administrator.
4. Once signed in as Administrator, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options for the normal user account and remove the corrupted PIN (or delete the NGC folder as described in that answer), then set a new PIN.

If none of the above works and no sign-in method is accepted (PIN or password), the remaining option is a clean install of Windows, which will remove apps and data on the device. This is similar to what another user ultimately had to do when no PIN or password recovery path worked.

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References:

• Use a screen reader to navigate sign in options in Windows
• Sign in to and out of your Surface
• Help for accounts in Windows
• Stuck in an infinite loop involving the PIN - Microsoft Q&A
• Unable to log in to Dell Rugged Laptop - Microsoft Q&A